Published: October 1, 2004

Johnson & Johnson won expanded approval to market Remicade, which it began selling in 1998, for patients who have been newly diagnosed with the crippling joint disorder rheumatoid arthritis. The Food and Drug Administration previously cleared the drug only for patients who were not helped by methotrexate, an older treatment for the disease, the company said. Worldwide sales of Remicade increased to $539 million in the second quarter, a 28 percent increase from a year earlier.